January 24, 2024

Dear Colleagues:

As part of the Department of Education’s career pathways initiative, Unlocking Career Success, and through the Perkins Innovation and Modernization grant program  OCTAE is excited to announce the winners of a new $25 million grant competition to launch career-connected high schools across the nation. The purpose of the PIM grant program is to identify, support, and rigorously evaluate evidence-based and innovative strategies and activities to improve and modernize career and technical education (CTE) and ensure workforce skills taught in CTE programs funded under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins V), align with labor market needs. 

Applicants were tasked to submit applications that outlined how to: 

• build capacity among secondary education, postsecondary education, and workforce development systems to expand access to career-connected high school programs for more students, while  
• unlocking career success utilizing four evidence-based strategies: career guidance and navigation systems; dual or concurrent enrollment; work-based learning; and industry-recognized credentials.  

The Department received over 160 eligible entries from 43 states and the District of Columbia, with requests totaling over $860M. Following a peer review of applications, 19 grantees were selected, with 11 of those grantees serving primarily rural communities.  Solutions include innovative partnerships, postsecondary navigators and career coaches, new approaches to family engagement, professional development for educators, and new statewide governance structures. Learn more about the grantees on the Unlocking Career Success website here: https://cte.ed.gov/unlocking-career-success/home  

Best,

Sharon Lee Miller

Director, Division of Academic and Technical Education